Back in 1971 I was given my first 35mm by my parents for my graduation from high school. Soon after, the family gathered in our back yard and I used the occasion to capture portraits of my relatives.

This is my Aunt Toots – my mom’s best friend in the family – was a mischievous wit and her own woman. She was a great influence for me as well.

I’m including these early portraits in my art photography because, as inexperienced as I was in photography, I did have a knack, and in this case managed to present the essence of each family member, almost as if they were on video, rather than frozen in time.